Hybrid Solar Power

Hybrid solar photovoltaic systems generate power in the same way as grid-connected solar PV systems but use a hybrid inverter(s) and batteries to store energy to levelise the cost of electricity. Hybrid systems can be designed using a string inverter or micro-inverters. Not all the hybrid system configurations operate without the grid being available. Please note that the new grid-independent Enphase IQ8 micro-inverter system will not be available until July 2020.

The heart of every battery system is an inverter-charger. The inverter-charger diverts power from the inverter directly to the house or batteries as required and converts stored DC energy in the batteries to AC electricity for use at night. It will stop the solar PV system from recharging the batteries once they are full. Our preferred inverter charger is the world-leading, Australian made Selectronics SP PRO which we can supply with a Selectronics-certified Fronius inverter. This configuration does supply electricity to the household if the grid is not available. You can be confident that as a Selectronic Accredited Integrator, we have undergone comprehensive training and assessment covering product design features, system integration, installation and field servicing of Selectronic inverters and have a robust understanding of how Selectronic inverters operate and interact with other components in a power system.

Given that battery technology is rapidly developing, our current preference is to supply either BYD or LG Chem lithium-ion batteries.

It should be noted that battery storage is not yet a cost effective option for the average Australian, however prices are dropping rapidly, and it is predicted that in a few years battery storage will become more affordable. As of April 2020, Wauchope Solar has installed three hybrid solar PV systems, all of which are test sites to monitor the effectiveness of battery storage.